Specter Introduces Legislation to Expedite Deportation of Criminal Aliens

Sends Letter to President of Egypt on Camp Hill Inmate

Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 -

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Egypt Letter (PDF 748.7 KBs)

Today, U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, introduced the Accountability in Immigrant Repatriation (AIR) Act of 2008. This legislation would impose sanctions on countries that refuse to take back aliens that have been convicted of crimes in the United States and other aliens who are under a final order of removal.

“Streamlining the deportation process and insisting that countries repatriate illegal aliens who have been convicted of crimes of violence will free substantial Immigration and Customs Enforcement resources, which can then be devoted to improving identification and reporting of deportable criminal aliens in federal, state or local custody,” Senator Specter said. “My proposal works to stop criminal aliens from being released onto our streets and helps to close the government’s credibility gap on immigration enforcement.”

As of February 11, 2008, eight countries are refusing to accept over 139,000 aliens. Over 18,000 of them are convicted criminals who have been released back onto U.S. streets. This presents an enormous problem for public safety, with a recidivism rate showing that they are likely to commit as many as eight additional crimes. In Pennsylvania, there are 700 to 1,000 undocumented criminal aliens that could be released back into the general population if their home countries refuse to take them back.

Senator Specter’s bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to report to Congress every 90 days on the countries that refuse or inhibit repatriation. Receipt of the report automatically triggers denial of certain foreign aid as well as suspension of visa issuances to the listed countries. The bill puts the burden on the Administration to request and justify an exception from Congress.

In the past several months, Senator Specter has visited prisons throughout Pennsylvania to meet with prison and immigration officials about the issue of undocumented criminal aliens. While visiting Camp Hill’s State Correctional Institute, Senator Specter learned of Mr. Abdel Fattah, an aggravated felon from Egypt who has served his minimum sentence and is now eligible for repatriation. Fattah’s delayed deportation to Egypt has come at great cost to Pennsylvania taxpayers: his continued detention runs $250,000 per year. Yesterday Senator Specter sent a letter to the President of Egypt asking for the country’s cooperation in Fattah’s repatriation.

March 2008 News Releases*